Mikkeller Keeper

What the brewers say

“Keeper is a highly hopped, refreshing pilsner with citrusy, hoppy notes and a light malty body.”

What our panel thought

Aroma: “Full earthy, woody, spicy hops aroma layered on bready malt. Floral esters and light stone fruit notes of peach or pear. Evergreen and spices with a hint of soap and even some catty and skunky notes. A bit of lemon. Is there Simcoe in this?”

Flavor: “Assertive hops bitterness and full resinous hops flavor, woody and sticky. Malt barely supports the hops, but does so cleanly. Huge hops flavor is skunky and pine-resiney. Bitter finish is harsh and hops astringency is over the top.”

Overall: “Nice showcase for noble hops. ‘Drinkability’ has been sacrificed in the name of loads of resinous hops flavor—this beer is all about hops without much else to soften it. There are not enough crackers in the world for the hops squeezings in this palate buster for IPA chasers.”